Susan Abayomi
Stanbic IBTC Bank has strengthened efforts to deepen economic and commercial cooperation between Nigeria and China through its maiden Business Without Borders forum, which brought together business leaders, investors, diplomats and policymakers in Lagos and Abuja.
The forum, held on August 25 and 28, 2026, respectively, was themed “Strengthening Nigeria-China Partnerships for Sustainable Growth.” It provided a platform for stakeholders to explore opportunities for increased trade, investment and strategic collaboration between the two countries.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Wole Adeniyi, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting businesses seeking to expand beyond Nigeria through financial, advisory and market-access solutions.
Adeniyi said stronger partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese businesses could help accelerate investment, promote innovation, create employment opportunities and contribute to economic development.
He also highlighted Stanbic IBTC’s role in facilitating cross-border commerce through its relationships with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Standard Bank Group. According to him, these partnerships provide businesses with greater access to international markets and opportunities.
Also speaking, Eric Fajemisin, Executive Director, Corporate and Transaction Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, said successful international partnerships depend on more than financial transactions, stressing the importance of trust, shared objectives and long-term commitment.
He noted that as economic ties between Nigeria and China continue to expand, platforms that bring businesses and other stakeholders together would remain important to shaping future growth.
At the Lagos edition, Li Li, Chief Executive Officer of ICBC Africa, highlighted the growing potential of Nigeria-China economic relations and the increasing role of the Chinese renminbi in facilitating trade and investment.
Li cited China-Africa trade figures, noting that bilateral trade reached a record $348.052 billion in 2025. He also reaffirmed ICBC’s commitment to supporting Africa’s development through its partnership with Standard Bank Group.
At the Abuja edition, Yingqi Wang, Minister Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, emphasised the importance of Standard Bank’s presence across Africa and its connections with Chinese business and financial resources.
The forum also examined opportunities for bilateral trade, infrastructure financing, regulatory navigation and the use of Chinese expertise to support industrialisation and job creation in Nigeria.
The initiative forms part of Stanbic IBTC’s broader Africa-China strategy aimed at supporting cross-border trade and creating growth opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
The bank’s CNY 800 million term loan agreement with China Development Bank, signed in July 2025, was also highlighted as part of its efforts to provide access to renminbi liquidity for businesses participating in the growing Africa-China economic corridor.
Through its Africa China Trade Solutions platform, Stanbic IBTC also supports Nigerian businesses seeking to engage Chinese suppliers by providing services covering areas such as supplier sourcing, price negotiation, quality assurance and logistics.
The Business Without Borders forum therefore represents another step in the bank’s efforts to connect Nigerian businesses with international markets while strengthening commercial relationships between Nigeria and China.
